Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-03-04
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1430), March 4, 1998
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Athens calls for defusion of Kosovo crisis through dialogue
[02] ... Albanian president to visit Athens
[03] Calls for pressure on Ankara, Denktash over Cyprus' EU accession
[04] ... Ecevit provocations
[05] ... Brussels conference
[06] Van den Broek-Kranidiotis meeting focuses on Cyprus' accession
[07] FYROM delegation in Athens
[08] Major NATO exercise in North Atlantic, Iberian Peninsula
[09] US Congressional committee critical of Turkey's human rights
[10] Kaklamanis meets with Algerian ambassador
[11] Amnesty Int'l event on ratification of Declaration of Human
Rights
[12] Karamanlis rejects notion that ND is drifting more to the right
[13] KYSEA announces decisions for top military posts
[14] Tsohatzopoulos represents PASOK at Eurosocialists meeting
[15] Athens municipality to refund parking fines
[16] Serapheim's condition improving
[17] Anastasios meets with Patriarch Petros in Alexandria
[18] Local residents block work on radar installation
[19] Kavala's archaeological museum to be upgraded
[20] Church sends help to Romanian needy
[21] Demirel message
[22] Minister: Athens air pollution shows decline
[23] New center to combat tuberculosis, meningitis
[24] Higher rate of digitalized phone network requested by gov't
[25] One in four Greeks overweight, experts say
[26] Greece announces banks taking part in bond loan
[27] Greeks to receive state pensions via banks
[28] Greek stocks jump on angst-free money market
[29] Greece hopes for more Italian tourists
[30] EU urges Greece to improve food control
[31] Presidential decree aims to limit scams targeting FEOGA financing
[32] Tourism company of Crete established
[01] Athens calls for defusion of Kosovo crisis through dialogue
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Greece yesterday called for a solution to the Kosovo crisis
through dialogue which respected the rights of Kosovo's ethnic
Albanians and secured the unity and sovereignty of Yugoslavia.
Government spokesman Demetris Reppas, expressing the
government's concern at the recent violence in Kosovo, said that
apart from Prime Minister Costas Simitis' telephone
conversations with his Albanian counterpart Fatos Nano on the
issue, Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis had a meeting
yesterday with the Yugoslav embassy's charge d'affaires. Foreign
Minister Theodoros Pangalos' visit to Belgrade at the end of
this week would also be a good opportunity for a discussion and
finding a solution to the problem, said Mr. Reppas, adding that
Greece was ready to offer its good services.
The spokesman was non-committal on reports that a meeting on
Kosovo was being planned for the end of March, to take place in
Athens. Mr. Reppas simply said in response to questions that
many initiatives were under way but that it was premature to
speak of scheduled meetings between the region's leaders.
Mr. Pangalos is also to visit Podgorica, the capital of
Montenegro, Mr. Reppas added.
On their part, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), the
Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos), the Democratic
Social Movement (DHKKI) and the Political Spring party expressed
concern yesterday over developments in the volatile Kosovo
region, stressing the need for initiatives to be undertaken to
overcome the crisis.
In a statement to a private radio station, KKE Secretary General
Aleka Papariga said Kosovo is an open wound gathering pus,
adding that it is intensified by competition between the United
States and the European Union for the region.
She urged initiatives by the peoples, or initiatives by
politicians who are not under the influence and submission of
the major powers struggling against each other in the region.
In an announcement, the Coalition of the Left and Progress
(Synaspismos) party deplored what it called the violent quelling
of demonstrations of the Albanian population by the mostly Serb
police forces, as well as extreme actions by secessionist
Albanian elements. Synaspismos expressed support for the return
of autonomy to Kosovo with a settlement based on respect for
existing international borders and the exclusion of secessionist
solutions and destabilizing tensions.
DHKKI called on the government to immediately begin peace
initiatives not guided by the major powers, in order to avoid
possible negative results.
Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras said the only just
solution lies with Kosovo remaining under the control of
Yugoslavia, but with educational rights being granted to the
Albanian community in the region.
[02] ... Albanian president to visit Athens
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Albanian President Rexhep Mejdani arrives in Athens next Monday
for a three-day visit, at the invitation of Greek counterpart
Kostis Stephanopoulos.
In preparation for his visit, Mr. Mejdani on Sunday visited
villages with sizable Greek ethnic minorities in southern
Albania, accompanied by deputy premier Bashkim Fino, interior
minister Neritan Ceka and transport and public works minister
Gaqo Apostoli.
In Gjirokaster, Mr. Mejdani was briefed by the town mayor on the
new conditions in the area a year after the collapse of pyramid
investment schemes plunged the country into turmoil and toppled
the Sali Berisha government.
Mr. Mejdani said after the meeting that "in a situation such as
that faced by Albania today, we need to raise the stature of a
society of the citizens, (which would be) the result of
co-operation among the intellectuals, religious communities and
non-governmental organizations".
Turning to Greece's role in the Albanian south, the president
called on the Greek government, "through the General Consulate
in Gjirokaster, to contribute to the economic upgrading of the
region".
He also called for foreign investments in Albania, adding that
"political guarantees" existed for foreign investors active in
the country.
Turning to the renewed tension in Serbia's overwhelmingly
Albanian-speaking Kosovo province and clashes on Monday in which
16 Albanians and 4 Serb policemen were killed, Mr. Mejdani said
that "the old mentality of clash, intolerance and hatred"
continue d to prevail in the Balkans, adding that the "Albanian
population" was paying the price.
He reiterated an appeal to the UN Secretary-General for the
dispatch of a permanent force to the region, and for
implementation of the Rugova-Milosevic agreement, as the first
step towards the commencement of dialogue.
[03] Calls for pressure on Ankara, Denktash over Cyprus' EU accession
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Greece requires the more forceful intervention of the European
Union in pressuring Turkey and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf
Denktash towards developments, ahead of the beginning of
accession procedures for Cyprus' accession to the EU, the
government said yesterday.
Government spokesman Demetris Reppas was commenting on recent
statements by Mr. Denktash and Turkish Deputy Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit, both of whom called for recognition of the
Turkish-occupied northern third of Cyprus.
Mr. Reppas condemned both politicians for "reiterating their
demands and subverting the framework set for the resolution of
the Cypriot problem by the international bodies."
Turkey's behavior towards these bodies is a provocation both to
the bodies themselves and to international public opinion as a
whole, Mr. Reppas said.
On its part, the main opposition New Democracy party said that
the Denktash and Ecevit statements point to the "shame" of the
international community over the fact that the Cyprus problem is
still waiting for a solution based on UN resolutions and
decisions, which Ankara systematically disregards and violates.
[04] ... Ecevit provocations
Istanbul, 04/03/1998 (ANA- A. Kourkoulas)
The European Union cannot protect the interests of the Turkish
Cypriots, Mr. Ecevit told a group of Turkish Cypriot reporters.
"Some (Turkish Cypriots) think it might be better to join the
EU. They must learn that the EU is not a guarantee, some rights
may not be granted. We must not forget the situation of the
"Turks" in western Thrace," he said.
Mr. Ecevit also said that "no Turkish government can make
concessions on the Cyprus issue," and that Turkey is not
thinking of withdrawing its forces from the northern part of the
island.
[05] ... Brussels conference
Brussels, 04/03/1998 (ANA- M. Spinthourakis)
Meanwhile, the Green group in the European Parliament organized
a two-day round-table meeting on Monday and yesterday on the
Cyprus issue, with the participation of politicians from both
sides of the island's divide, experts and journalists.
Greece and Turkey were represented by professors Christos
Rozakis and Mumtal Soyzal, who have both held ministerial posts
in their respective countries' foreign ministries.
Mr. Soyzal claimed that the Cyprus problem has its roots in the
1923 Treaty of Lausanne, where the issue of political balance
between the two communities was first raised. He fully justified
the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus, and said the Turkish
Cypriots were right in not trusting the UN, since it refused to
recognize their 'state'.
Mr. Rozakis said the present status quo in Cyprus was in
contradiction to the basic principles of the UN, and this was
the reason why the organization refused to recognize the
northern part as a separate state.
"In recent years the UN has recognized many new states which
emerged as a result of the collapse of the eastern bloc, but not
the self-styled 'Turkish republic of northern Cyprus' because
its creation was the result of the use of armed military
violence by the Turkish army, in violation of both UN
resolutions and the basic principles of international law on the
peaceful co-existence of nations," he said in response to his
Turkish colleague.
"The Turkish invasion of Cyprus was effectively a procedure of
ethnic cleansing and a refutation of the multi-cultural and
pluralistic model of society," he added.
Turkish Cypriot politician Mehmet Ali Talat, the leader of the
Turkish Republican Party, supported the participation of Turkish
Cypriots in the EU-Cyprus accession negotiations, scheduled to
start on March 31.
[06] Van den Broek-Kranidiotis meeting focuses on Cyprus' accession
Brussels, 04/03/1998 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)
Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis held a meeting here
last night with Foreign Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek.
The meeting came a few days after a five-day visit Mr.
Kranidiotis paid to Cyprus and in light of today's visit to the
island republic by Mr. van den Broek, where he will be
accompanied, according to reports, by Britain's envoy to Cyprus
Sir David Hannay.
In a statement after meeting with Mr. Kranidiotis, Mr. van den
Broek said the refusal of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash
to see him was regrettable and expressed the hope he will change
his position soon.
He said that with Mr. Kranidiotis he also discussed the issue of
the participation of the Turkish Cypriots in the negotiating
delegation of Cyprus. He will also discuss the issue with Cyprus
President Glafcos Clerides.
He further said that he will discuss the issue of a resumption
of inter-communal talks with Mr. Clerides.
Replying to a question on whether the issue of the Turkish
Cypriots' participation could jeopardize the start to accession
negotiations with Cyprus on March 31, Mr. van den Broek said it
will be seen what will be done by then.
Mr. Kranidiotis said he briefed Mr. van den Broek on Greek
positions and on his discussions in Cyprus. He added that he
briefed him on Greece's reservations over all the plans of the
British EU presidency on the opening positions of the "15" at
the start to the EU's enlargement process on March 30-31.
The proposals of the EU presidency on the opening position of
the "15" regarding Cyprus do not satisfy Greece and at present a
compromise formula is being sought in the framework of the "15".
It is believed on the part of Greece there is considerable
ground for a compromise to be found by March 30. This view is
shared, according to diplomatic sources, by the British
presidency.
[07] FYROM delegation in Athens
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
A government delegation from the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia (FYROM) is expected in Athens tomorrow for talks on
bilateral issues and talks on developments in the Balkans, a
foreign ministry announcement stated yesterday. The FYROM
delegation, headed by Foreign Under-secretary Ognuen Malevski,
visited Athens following a similar visit by Greek officials to
Skopje in February 1996. Greece opposes the use of the name
'Macedonia' by the landlocked republic, arguing it conceals
expansionist designs against its historic northern province of
Macedonia.
The two countries signed an interim agreement in September 1995
providing for the normalization of bilateral relations, while
the issue of the former Yugoslav republic's name is still the
object of bilateral discussions under United Nations auspices.
[08] Major NATO exercise in North Atlantic, Iberian Peninsula
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
The NATO alliance's largest exercise of the year, code-named
"Strong Resolve '98" will take place in the North Atlantic and
the Iberian Peninsula between March 9-21.
All NATO member-states will participate in this massive military
exercise, while seven countries observing NATO's Partnership for
Peace (PfP) initiative will also participate for the first time,
including Austria, Bulgaria, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia (FYROM), Lithuania, Rom-ania, Slovakia and Sweden.
The exercise is aimed at testing NATO's ability to tackle two
crises developing in two different geographic regions at the
same time.
Greece will participate in the exercise in the Iberian Peninsula
with the frigate "Spetsai", four F-16 aircraft, as well as with
a number of officers for the staff of the joint combined force.
[09] US Congressional committee critical of Turkey's human rights
Washington, 04/03/1998 (ANA - T. Ellis)
A US Congressional Committee on Security and Co-operation in
Europe yesterday released a letter on the subject of human
rights to Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, which also
contains a call for the reopening of the Theological School of
Halki, in the context of commitments undertaken by Turkey
towards the OSCE.
The letter, dated Feb. 24, and signed by members of the
committee which recently visited Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, is
highly critical of Turkey for its continued violation of human
rights, despite Mr. Yilmaz's assurances that he intended to
change the current situation.
[10] Kaklamanis meets with Algerian ambassador
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis yesterday received
Algerian ambassador to Athens Kamel Houhou, expressing Greece's
concern for the return of order and peace to the North African
country. Mr. Kaklamanis told Mr. Houhou that the sooner Algeria
exits the current turmoil it faces, allowing democracy to
function without the fear of religious 'fundamentalism,' the
sooner Europe will change its attitude" toward the country.
Mr. Houhou said that the decision of his government and the
Algerian people is to end terrorism within the framework of law
and democratic procedures.
[11] Amnesty Int'l event on ratification of Declaration of Human
Rights
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos yesterday
inaugurated an Amnesty International (AI) campaign in Greece
commemorating the 50th anniversary of the ratification of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The event at the presidential mansion was also attended, among
others, by the Prime Minister Costas Simitis, main opposition
New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis, Parliament President
Apostolos Kaklamanis and other political leaders.
In his address, the president said the existence of democratic
rights was not a guarantee of human rights.
"There are states which are not democratic, and there are states
which despite having secured an electoral process as a means for
the expression of popular sovereignty have no respect for human
rights whatsoever.
"There are also states which are really democratic, which are
only interested in human rights domestically, and are
indifferent to what goes on around them. They may be interested
more in the free flow of oil or other serious matters," he said.
Mr. Stephanopoulos expressed his satisfaction with the fact that
"in Greece, we can be easily compared to any other civilized
nation in Europe with respect to human rights, without this
meaning that we have reached ideal situations".
[12] Karamanlis rejects notion that ND is drifting more to the right
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis yesterday
dismissed the notion that ND was increasingly moving to the
right, stressing that it has carved an unwavering course in the
middle of the political spectrum, guided by a progressive
economic credo and with a high degree of social sensitivity.
He said the state should provide incentives to citizens to
promote creativity, and stand by them when they face problems.
Mr. Karamanlis on Monday will chair a session of the party's
Parliamentary group regarding the method of selection for the
candidates the party will support in municipal and prefectural
elections later in the year.
Sources said that former prime minister Costantine Mitsotakis is
likely to attend the session, one day after delivering a speech
at the Propeller Club in Thessaloniki, Mr. Karamanlis'
constituency. The party is to elect new chairpersons of
prefectural committees over the weekend.
[13] KYSEA announces decisions for top military posts
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
The Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA)
convened yesterday to decide on the promotions of the nation's
high-ranking military officers.
Gen. Athanasios Tzoganis was re-appointed as the National
Defense General Staff Chief; Lt. Gen. Manousos Paragioudakis was
re-appointed Army General Staff Chief; Rear Adm. Georgios
Ioannidis was appointed Navy General Staff Chief and Lt. Gen.
Georgios Antonetsis was re-appointed Air Force General Staff
Chief.
Rear Adm. Nikolaos Katsaros was appointed fleet commander.
[14] Tsohatzopoulos represents PASOK at Eurosocialists meeting
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Greece's socialists will be represented at the European
Socialist Party summit in Brussels today by National Defense
Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, the party's vice-president, and
Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis in his capacity as
deputy secretary of PASOK's international relations department.
The agenda for today's meeting includes preparations for the
party's conference in early 1999, the drafting of its platform
for the European Parliament elections in June 1999 as well as
its positions regarding the enlargement of the European Union.
[15] Athens municipality to refund parking fines
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Athens Mayor Demetris Avramopoulos yesterday announced that the
municipality will refund by mail all parking fines that were
assessed by and paid to private parking control companies.
The announcement came after the Council of State (CoS) ruled
that it is unconstitutional for municipalities to contract out
parking control and collection of parking fines.
According to Mr. Avramopoulos the city will refund a total of
about 350 million drachmas and will then demand that the firm
owned by Demetris Kokkinakis, which was on contract by Athens,
refund to the municipality its fees, amounting to 36 per cent of
the fines collected - about 126 million drachmas.
On his part, Interior, Public Administration and
Decentralization Under-secretary Lambros Papadimas accused Mr.
Avramopoulos of leading the municipality to a judicial and an
economic ordeal.
He added that after the publication of the CoS's decision, which
is expected within the next 10 to 15 days, the ministry will
begin a dialogue with the Central Union of Greek Municipalities
and Communities (KEDKE), of which Mr. Avramopoulos is president
, on redefining the preconditions of ceding responsibilities to
private firms or individuals.
Mr. Papadimas said "the Council of State did very well in this
case, (but) it will be tragic to think that this will put on the
brakes to other healthy activities of OTAs (Local government
organizations)."
In answering Mr. Papadimas' statements, Mr. Avramopoulos said
that the under-secretary should have been better informed, and
that he should not take part in political pre-election games.
Mr. Avramopoulos added that all this could have been averted had
the ministry of interior given a clear picture and a definite
legal framework of responsibilities to municipalities.
He also said that the municipality followed a law voted by a
PASOK government in 1994, allowing the awarding of parking
control to private companies, while Mr. Papadimas used that law
when he was mayor of Lamia.
Coalition of the Left and Progress deputy and mayoral candidate
Maria Damanaki as well as the leader of the municipal council's
opposition, Yiannis Angelakis, accused Mr. Avramopoulos of
"behaving like an emperor."
Ms Damanaki claimed Mr. Avramopoulos also went through with the
contract although he knew that the decision to directly award
the contract without a 2/3 city council majority was illegal.
In reply, deputy mayor Angelos Moshonas accused Ms Damanaki of
hiding behind her Parliamentary immunity for what he called a
"slander campaign" against the Athens mayor and called her to
resign as a deputy.
Mr. Moshonas added that parking control will operate again,
before October's municipal elections, this time under the
auspices of the municipal police.
Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas
Laliotis said that his ministry's concern is the determining of
parking control areas.
Government spokesman Demetris Reppas said traffic control
responsibilities can be exercised by municipal or private firms
under certain conditions, which were not adhered to by Athens.
[16] Serapheim's condition improving
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Archbishop Serapheim of Athens and All Greece, hospitalized last
week with a viral infection and respiratory problems, was
marking a "slow but steady improvement" and was "responding to
treatment", a medical bulletin said yesterday.
The bulletin issued by the Laiko Hospital in Athens, where
Serapheim has been hospitalized since last Tuesday, said that
although the Archbishop's condition had "improved remarkably"
since Saturday, the "damage caused by the infection have not
been fully restored" and the possibility of "some complication
arising cannot be ruled out".
It said the Archbishop, a long-time kidney sufferer, would
undergo "scheduled dialysis treatment" today, adding that it was
not possible at present to anticipate when the Archbishop could
be released from hospital.
[17] Anastasios meets with Patriarch Petros in Alexandria
Alexandria, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania Anastasios concluded an
official visit here yesterday, holding talks with the Patriarch
of Alexandria and All Africa Petros on various denominational
and ecclesiastical issues.
Both men stressed their desire and will for co-operation between
the two Churches and confirmed the duty of developing and
strengthening inter-Orthodox unity.
Archbishop Anastasios left Alexandria for Tirana yesterday
morning.
[18] Local residents block work on radar installation
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Residents of Perea and four other communities neighboring
Thessaloniki's Macedonia airport yesterday blocked bulldozers
that had moved in to begin work on the construction of a new
radar system for the airport.
The residents are citing concerns over the possible effects of
radiation emitted by the radar equipment.
The leaders of the five communities have been called to appear
before the Thessaloniki prosecutor today along with
representatives of the civil aviation service in order to find a
solution to the problem.
Perea has already appealed to the Council of State, proposing an
alternative radio-link between the airport control tower and the
Hortiati military radar station, adding that the municipality
would meet the costs.
The Civil Aviation Service, however, has refused to discuss any
alternative. Its deputy director George Souladakis told the ANA
the installation of the radar must go ahead at all costs.
[19] Kavala's archaeological museum to be upgraded
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Kavala's archaeological museum is being significantly upgraded
to be able to exhibit rare collections found at excavations in
the last 50 years.
The new collections date from the pre-history and classical
civilizations in the northeast of Greece.
The new works involve a general upgrade for the museum, its
installations and a revamping of the museum's exhibition spaces.
"Kavala's new museum has begun. The building is already being
extended. At this stage we are working on a special cultural
events hall which will house occasional exhibitions and will
give new impetus to reaching out to the public beyond the strict
boundaries of a museum," the head of the classical and
pre-history antiquities section in Kavala, Haido
Koukoulis-Chyrsanthankis said.
The new wing of the museum will be ready by the end of 1999 and
along with the other projects, will cost a total o 1.3 billion
drachmas.
The second stage of works foresees the construction of
laboratories and storage areas in the museum, which will handle
artifacts from all museums in the eastern Macedonia and Thrace
region.
The increasing importance of the Kavala Museum will also entail
a corresponding increase in specialized personnel -
archaeologists, restorers, lab assistants and experts and
guards.
[20] Church sends help to Romanian needy
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
The Greek Orthodox Church has dispatched 15,000 tons of oranges
urgently needed by children, the elderly and impoverished
families in Romania.
A spokesperson for the Romanian Orthodox Church, which
represents 90 percent of the 23 million-strong population of
Romania, told the ANA it would oversee the distribution of the
oranges to institutions housing children and elderly and to poor
families.
The spokesperson said that, according to official statistics,
more than 50 percent of Romanians live below the poverty level.
[21] Demirel message
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Turkish President Suleyman Demirel addressed a message to
President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos yesterday during
his flight towards Spain.
In his message, Mr. Demirel expressed his best wishes for the
health and happiness of President Stephanopoulos and the
prosperity of the Greek people.
[22] Minister: Athens air pollution shows decline
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Air pollution in Athens has significantly decreased over the
last three years as a result of the program "Anti-pollution
Attica SOS" which is aimed at reducing the city's air pollution
by 30% before 2004 when Greece is to stage the Olympic Games,
Environment Minister Costas Laliotis said yesterday.
Mr. Laliotis added that at no time during 1997 had there been a
need to impose a ban on cars within the city center, usual when
pollution levels are high.
The reductions ranged from 8.1 percent for emissions of carbon
monoxide to 40.5 percent for emissions of sulfur dioxide.
A seven-billion drachma program will be under way over the next
two years to increase the number of mobile units monitoring
pollution levels around the city and to form a special unit to
enforce environmental regulations in industries. According to
figures presented by Mr. Laliotis, in 1997 nearly half the
2,401,410 vehicles circulating in Greece had catalytic
converters, only 10 percent of these were outside areas of high
pollution.
Forty-eight percent of all vehicles circulate in Athens.
The ministry has included various projects aimed at reducing air
pollution in the second Community Support Framework with a
budget of 15 billion drachmas, scheduled for completion within
1999.
[23] New center to combat tuberculosis, meningitis
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Tuberculosis and meningitis - both diseases long thought to be
under control - are making a reappearance in Greece, experts
said yesterday. Thirty-five cases of a new form of meningitis
have been recorded since the beginning of the year, three of
them fatal. The increase is attributed in part to a new,
contagious strain of meningitis - the inflammation of the
meninges, particularly as a result of infection from bacteria or
viruses - dubbed 'C'.
Recent studies on 2,000 migrants to Greece have also shown an
increased incidence of tuberculosis compared to the general
population. Some 1,000 cases of tuberculosis were officially
recorded last year but experts say that the real figure is more
likely closer to 3,000. The figures were announced at a news
conference on the establishment of a central epidemiological
center which will monitor and study the incidence of
communicable diseases.
The center hopes to act as a central body for the documentation
of diseases such as meningitis, tuberculosis and Hepatitis A.
Officially called the Center for Epidemiological Supervision and
Intervention, the center aims to detect new strains of disease
in their infancy and take timely action to prevent their
spreading.
Experts said that they were already predicting a new outbreak of
measles but said they were not making the announcement to cause
panic but to inform physicians of the need to take preventive
action. The center will have a nationwide brief and have at its
disposal a mobile laboratory which will be able to set up and
conduct on-the-spot pathology tests. Its brief will extend to
testing of foodstuffs considered to be a public health hazard.
[24] Higher rate of digitalized phone network requested by gov't
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Transport and Communications Minister Tassos Mantelis yesterday
asked the board and employees of the Hellenic Telecommunications
Organization (OTE) to speed up the conversion of its phone
network to digital technology, with a target of 70 per cent by
the end of the year, up from 47 per cent today.
He also said the state-run utility will triple its telecoms
investments in 1998, expected to reach 350 billion drachmas.
Further, he announced that the harmonization of
telecommunication regulations, that have been delayed, must be
completed by May, while in the same month a new draft law on
telecommunications will be tabled, also covering the electronic
media sector.
[25] One in four Greeks overweight, experts say
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
One in four Greeks are considered to be overweight and up to 40
percent Greeks want to lose weight, according to a news
conference yesterday on the occasion of the Greek Medical
Society on Obesity's conference in Thessaloniki next week.
Experts said obesity was an illness which increased morbidity
and decreased life span and was rarely treated as a whole,
leading sufferers open to exploitation.
Fad diets and short-term miracle weight-loss programs without
the appropriate psychological support, they said, exacerbated
problems and side-effects such as heart disease, respiratory
difficulties and psychological problems.
The Thessaloniki conference will be open to the public for the
first time to allow society to participate and be briefed on the
latest developments in the area.
[26] Greece announces banks taking part in bond loan
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Finance Under-secretary Nikos Christodoulakis yesterday named
the banks that will handle a seven-billion dollar bond loan
arranged for Greece in the US. The 17 banks are as follows: Lead
Managers
* Lehman Brothers, J.P. Morgan Managers US
* Credit Suisse-First Boston, Salomon Brothers, Merrill Lynch,
Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Bear Stearns, Citibank Europe
* Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, SBC Warburg , Dresdner, National
Bank of Greece Japan
* Daiwa, Nomura, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi
[27] Greeks to receive state pensions via banks
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Greeks will receive their state pensions through direct bank
deposits from June 24, Finance Under-secretary Nikos
Christodoulakis said yesterday.
Most pensioners currently receive their monthly payments in cash
delivered by postmen, who have become a target for thieves.
Banks belonging to the Dias computerized system of payments will
take part in the new scheme along with the Post Office Savings
Fund and state Loans and Deposits Fund.
[28] Greek stocks jump on angst-free money market
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Greek equities ended sharply higher in the first trading session
of the week yesterday, helped by stable conditions in the
domestic money market and healthy 1997 corporate results.
The general index closed 1.86 percent higher at 1,445.65 points
with most sector indices scoring gains.
Banks rose 1.88 percent, Insurance increased 1.48 percent,
Industrials jumped 2.60 percent, Miscellaneous ended 0.75
percent higher and Holding was 1.58 percent up. Leasing fell
2.03 percent, Investment plunged 4.29 percent and Construction
eased 0.40 percent.
The parallel market index rose 0.53 percent. The FTSE/ASE blue
chip index soared 2.23 percent.
Trading was moderate with turnover at 16.1 billion drachmas.
Broadly, advancers led decliners by 120 to 95 with another 22
issues unchanged.
Benroubi, Greek Aluminium, Hellas Can, Alco and Ergas scored the
biggest percentage gains at the daily 8.0 percent upper
volatility limit. Technodomi, Parnassos and Alpha Invest
suffered the heaviest losses.
National Bank of Greece ended at 20,790 drachmas, Ergobank at
14,845, Alpha Credit Bank at 15,650, Delta Dairy at 2,900, Titan
Cement at 13,900, Intracom at 14,545 and Hellenic
Telecommunications Organization at 5,850.
[29] Greece hopes for more Italian tourists
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
Greece's participation in BIT 1998, an international tourism
trade fair held each year in Milan, may spur interest in the
country as a venue for Italian holidaymakers.
Greek National Tourism Organization Secretary-General Nikos
Skoulas yesterday met industry representatives including the
chairman of Italy's federation of tourism agencies, Alessandro
de Scalchi.
Mr. Skoulas presented Greece's new tourism policy, which aims to
promote theme travel and extend the tourist season to 12 months.
[30] EU urges Greece to improve food control
Brussels, 04/03/1998 (ANA/P. Pantelis)
A European Union committee urged Greece to improve coordination
and communication among regulatory authorities in order to
develop a more efficient system of food control.
The EU has adopted legislation providing the European Commission
with the power to monitor food-control systems in the 15 member
states.
The committee is conducting annual visits to EU member-states in
order to evaluate progress.
[31] Presidential decree aims to limit scams targeting FEOGA financing
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
A presidential decree providing for measures against
untrustworthy businesspeople financed through the European
Agricultural Fund (FEOGA) is about to be signed by three
ministers.
According to the legislation, which harmonizes national with EU
legislation, Union member-states are obliged to adopt
appropriate preventative measures against untrustworthy
businesspeople as well as to place them on a black list for the
EU Commission. The list is then available for other
member-states.
[32] Tourism company of Crete established
Athens, 04/03/1998 (ANA)
A charter for the creation of a tourism company of Crete was
signed in Rethimno yesterday in the presence of Greek Tourism
Organization (EOT) Secretary General Nikos Skoulas.
In a statement, Mr. Skoulas said that harmonious co-operation
between agencies on the island can be an example worth
duplicating in other areas in the country.
End of English language section.
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